Treatment of filaments or threads



Jan. 14, 1941. E. KINSELLA TREATMENT OF FILAMENTS 0R THREADS Filed Feb. 2, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l E-KINSELLA INVENTOK ATTORNEYS Jan- 14, 194 E. KINSELLA TREATMENT OF FILAMENTS 0R THREADS Filed Feb. 2, 19.39 2 Shaets-Shet 2- FIG. 7

Patented Jan. 14, 1941 TREATMENT OF FILAMENTS R THREADS Edward Kinsella, Spondon, near Derby, England, assignor to Celanese Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application February 2. 1939, Serial No. 254,206 In Great Britain February 23, 1938 9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the treatment of filaments or threads with fluid treatment agents under pressure.

U. S. Patents Nos. 2,142,721 and 2,142,722 describe apparatus for the treatment of filaments, threads and other materials with fluid treatment agents under pressure which comprises a substantially closed vessel for the fluid treatment medium, while U. S. Patent No. 2,142,909 describes 1 apparatus for carrying out such treatments in which the treatment chamber is provided with one or two end chambers for inert fluid under pressure. The apparatus described in the above specifications is provided with orifices for the passage of the materials through the apparatus and when it is employed for the treatment of m-a-" terials with fluid treatment agents under pressure there exists a body of inert or treatment fluid under pressure in a vessel which communioates with the atmosphere, and if the pressure is high there may be a considerable fluid flow into the atmosphere through the orifices.

The present invention is concerned with apparatus provided with means to reduce this fluid According to the present invention an outlet member for apparatus for the treatment of filaments or threads with fluid treatment agents under pressure comprises two plates fitting edge to edge, the Joint face of each plate being formed with slots running lengthwise of the faces and the joint face of at least one plate being formed with upstanding ribs that can enter slots in the other plate, a transverse groove being formed in such ribs across the thickness of the plate and extending below the joint faceof the plate to form a passage for a filament or thread from one side of the outlet member to the other. Preferably, both plates are formed with upstanding m ribs having transverse grooves in register with each other. Fbr the simultaneous treatment of 1 a plurality of threads, as many transverse grooves as are necessary are used to provide for the passage of the threads. Thetransverse grooves are preferably of V-section so that plates intended to provide an outlet for a large number of threads can be readily applied to the threads (already in spaced relationship) and assembled to each other with each thread at the bottom of a V-groove. 0 The bottoms of the transverse grooves are preferably semi-circular in shape, so that the passage through the plates is circular in cross-section.

Any fluid passing with the thread through the passage in the plates enters the space in a rib formed by a V-groove and then can only escape (into the similar space in the next rib on the other plate) through the narrow thread passa e formed by the overlapping bases of the V-grooves of the two plates. The fluid thus passes through a series of expansion chambers, and the result- 5 ant charges of velocity in the labyrinthine path followed by the fluid cause the amount of fluid escaping to be substantially less than if the fluid were free to flow through an uninterrupted passage in the plates of the size required for the 10 thread. The number of expansion chambers may, for example, be 2, 4, 6 or more, the greater the number of chambers the more eflicient, in general, being .the apparatus as regards. the prevention of loss of fluid.

An outlet of this type may be provided whereever it is desired to prevent flow of pressure fluid from a vessel through which filaments or pass, whether the tendency to flow is into another vessel or into the atmosphere.

The outlet according to the invention not only facilitates threading up but also renders substantially the whole of the thickness of the wall available for expansion chambers, since each chamber communicates directly with the adj acent one.

One or more of the slots forming the expansion chambers may .be connected to a passage through which air, water or other fluid, if desired under pressure, can be fed to it. By this means substantially all flow of treatment medium from the treatment chamber can be prevented.

It the two plates are semi-circular, their edges may be bevelled to abut against a similar bevel in the end wall of the chamber, with a joint ring interposed, if -desiredyso as to held in place by the fluid pressure in the chamber.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. i is a. diagrammatic cross-sectional elevation of the type of apparatus illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 2,142,909, in which the treated materials pass from the pressure vessel into the atmosphere;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation to a larger scale of the outlet of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the outlet member proper of Fig. 2

Figs. 4 and 5 are end and cross-sectional elevations respectively of details of Figs. 2 and 3 to an enlarged scale;

Figs. 6 and 7 are views corresponding to Figs. 5

-4 and 5, showing the parts in assembled position; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are views similar to Figs. 6 and 7, showing a modification.

Referring to Fig. 1, threads I are drawn by feed rolls 2 from :bob'bins 3 into a preliminary pressure chamber 4 and pass thence into a treating vessel 5 to which pressure fluid is admitted by pipes 5 above and below the threads, a drain I 10 providing means for evacuating fluid from the vessel. Further feed rolls 8 draw the threads from the vessel 5, and the treated threads are wound on'bobbins 9. The chamber 4 may be filled with compressed air at a pressure substantially equal to that of the fluid in the vessel 5, thus minimising escape of fluid from the vessel !5 by way of the holes III by which the threads pass into the vessel. At the outlet however, the threads pass into the atmosphere, and there is therefore a pressure drop across the outlet that tends to cause pressure fluid to pass out of the yessel. In the case where heated fluid (e. g. hot water or steam) is used, such escape of fluid at the outlet may represent a considerable heat loss,

as well as being generally inconvenient in attending to the apparatus.

. To cut down the amount of fluid escaping by the thread outlet, the outlet member is formed as shown in Figs. 2-7. A pair of similar semicircular plates |2 are connected by dowels l3 so a that they'can be located in a circular opening 14 in the end flange l5 of the vessel 5. Both the edge of the plates l2 and edge of the opening H are tapered, and a joint ring I6 let in the edge of the opening enables a tight joint to be made round the plates, the pressure of the fluid in the vessel 5 (acting from the left in Fig. 2) tending to maintain the joint closed. Studs l1, la in the plates I2 and the flange l5 respectively enable the plates to be held in position by means of aring l9. 1

Along the diametral joint line 20 of the plates l2 jet holes are cut to provide for the passage of the threads I from the vessel 5. The joint faces 2| of the plates are not, however, plain, but are milled to form slots 22 separated by ribs 23 running lengthwise of the faces, the extent and depth of the slots and ribs being indicated by the dotted lines 24 in Figs. 3, 4 and 6. Moreover,

the ribs 23 project above the joint faces 2| to a height equal to about half the depth of the slots 22. The projecting parts 2 of the ribs are slightly thinner than the widths of the slots, as is shown most clearly in Fig. 5.

The plates l2 may thus be assembled with their faces 21 in contact, and with the projecting ribs 25 of the one passing with slight clearance into the slots 22 of the other. 7

The jet holes are formed by cutting transverse grooves 26 of V-section (see particularly Fig. 4) through the parts 25 across the thickness of the plates 12, each groove ending in a semi-circular groove 21 having its diameter on the joint face 2| of a plate. The grooves 21 thus run across the 5 whole width of the faces 2| butare broken by the slots 22.

When the plates are assembled, grooves 21 of one plateregister with grooves 21 of the other, though alternating with eachother across the thickness of the plates, so that a continuous jet passage 28 is provided from side to side of the plates (see particularly Figs. 6 and 7), the passage being circular in section at the faces of the plates, but over the rest of its length expanding alternately upwards and downwards into the chambers formed where the V-grooves 21 extend into the slots 22. The ends of the passages 28 are flared, as shown at 29. The spacing of the passages may be about 5 or 6 times the diameter of the passages; for example passages of .4, .5, 5 or .6 mm. may have a spacing of 2.5, 3.0 or 3.5 mm.

With the several threads I suitably spaced from each other, one plate l2 can be brought to the threads with a projecting rib 25 between each pair of threads and the threads pass smoothly'm into the semi-circular grooves 21. The other plate I2 is similarly brought to the threads, and, guided by the dowels I3, is moved towards the first plate until the joint faces 2| meet, the threads again passing smoothly to the grooves 21 of the 15 second plate. Entering of a thread in each hole is thus rapidly eifected, and when the plates are assembled there is nothing to trap the threads between the two plates, which is of particular advantage when the threads consist of continuous 20 filaments associated with little or no twist.

Entering of the threads can be effected by passing each plate in turn through the opening I, holding the studs l1 while the plates are manipulated, and then drawing the plates against the joint ring ii for the plates to be secured by the ring is.

Because of the extension of the slots 22 alternately upwards and downwards from the passage 28, the path for escaping fluid is labyrinthine in 30 character. Escape of fluid from one slot 22 to the next'is by way of a restricted passage substantially of the cross-section of the circular portion of the passage 28.

The fluid is therefore subjected to considerable 35 velocity changes, and this results in a much reduced flow of fluid to the atmosphere.

In the circular-sectioned portions of the passage 28 at the faces of the plates I2, the space available for the escape of fluid is the area of o the passage not filled by the thread I, and it will be understood that when the thread has been stretched in the vessel 5 the final cross-section of the thread may be very much reduced compared with its cross-section at the time when it was 45 initially entered in the passage by the assembling of the plates. Some escape of fluid is therefore inevitable, but the labyrinthine form of the escape path cuts down the amount of fluid that can escape, and, by the consequent reduction in 50 the escape velocity of the fluid, also cuts down the tension imposed by the fluid on the thread.

In Figs. 8 and 9, provision is made for admitting fluid to the labyrinth. Pipes 30 lead to header passages 31 running parallel to the row 55 of jets 28, and branch passages 32 connect thepassages 3| with the two slots 22 nearest to the pressure side of the plates l2. If, then, steam is the pressure fluid used in the 'vessel 5, water under pressure may be admitted through the o0 pipes 30 to prevent escape of steam through the labyrinth. Instead, therefore, of hot steam or water vapour escaping into the atmosphere, the only fluid escapingmay be cold or relatively cold water. Similarly, compressed air or other gas 55 may be admitted to prevent escape of pressure fluid.

Figs. 8 and 9 also show the V-grooved ribs 22 provided at the faces of the plates l2 instead of merely internally of the plate thickness. In this 7 case, any slight danger of trapping threads at the edges of the circular passages at the faces of the plates in the construction shown in Figs. 27 is avoided.

In order to guide the threads normally through 75 the passages in the plates l2, spacing combs 33 may be placed in proximity to the outlet, as shown in Fig. 1.

Having described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An outlet member for apparatus for the' treatment of filaments or threads with fiuid treatment agents under pressure, said member comprising two plates fitting edge to edge, the joint face of each plate being formed with slots runnin lengthwise of the faces and the Joint face of at least one plate being formed with upstanding ribs that can enter slots in the other plate, a transverse groove being formed in such ribs across the thickness of the plate and extending below the joint face of the plate to form a passage for a filament or thread from one side of the outlet member to the other.

2. An outlet member according to claim 1, wherein both plates are formed with upstanding ribs having transverse grooves in register with each other.

3. An outlet member for apparatus for the treatment of filaments or threads with fluid treatprising two plates fitting edge to edge, the joint Y face of each plate being formed with slots runnin lengthwise of the face and with upstanding ribs that can enter the slots in the other plate, transverse grooves of V-section being formed in the ribs of each plate across the thickness of the plate, the grooves in the plates being in register with each other and extending below the joint faces ofthe plates to form passages for filaments or threads from one side of the outlet member to the other.

4. An outlet member according to claim 1,'

wherein the bottoms of the transverse grooves are semi-circular.

5. An outlet member for apparatus for the treatment of filaments or threads with fluid treatment agents under pressure, said member comprising two plates fltting edge to edge, the joint face of each plate being formed with slots running lengthwise of the faces and with upstanding ribs that can enter slots in the other plate, transverse grooves of V-section, the bottoms of which are semi-circular, being formed in the ribs of each plate across the thickness of the plate, the grooves in the plates being in registry with each other and extending below the joint faces of the plates to form passages for filaments or threads from one side of the outlet member to the other.

6. An outlet member according to claim 1, wherein the ribs of one plate fit the slots of the other plate with a slight clearance.

7. An outlet member for apparatus for the treatment of filaments or threads with fiuid treatment agents under pressure, said member comprising two plates fitting edge to edge, the joint face of each plate being formed with slots running lengthwise of the faces and with upstanding ribs that can enter the slots in the other plate and fit therein with a slight clearance, transverse grooves in register with each other being formed in the ribs of each plate across the thickness of the plate and extending below the joint face of the plate to form passages for filaments or threads from one side of the outlet member to the other.

8. An outlet member according to claim 1, comprising one or more passages in the plates communicating with one or more slots for the introduction of fluid to the filament or thread outlet. g

9. An outlet member according to claim 1, wherein the two plates are semi-circular, so as to fit a circular aperture in a wall of the treatment apparatus.

EDWARD KINSELLA. 

